- Those who are looking for a super clean sea.
- Lovers of remote islands
The Kerama Islands are located near the main island of Okinawa.
On my last trip, the guesthouse “MYPLACE” praised the Kerama Islands highly.
So this place is famous for diving.
The sea, known as Kerama blue, is one of the clearest in the world.
I looked into these Kerama Islands.
Please take a look if you are interested.
目次
Location of Kerama Islands
The Kerama Islands are a group of more than 20 islands of various sizes located about 40 km from Naha, Okinawa.
Among them,
Aka Island (Aka Jima)
Zamami Island (Zamami Jima)
Tokashiki Island（Tokashiki Jima）
are popular.
The beauty of the sea, called “Kerama blue,” is one of the best in the world.
It has become a favorite destination for divers from around the world.
Access
To get to Kerama Islands, go to Tomari Port Passenger Terminal Building in Naha.
“TOMARIN”
Ferries and high-speed boats leave from there.
It takes about an hour to get there by high-speed boat.
One round-trip ferry service per day
High-speed boats usually make two round trips per day (three round trips in high season)
Rates are as follows.
Aka Island and Zamami Island
| Aka Port | Zamami Port | Charge (One-way) | Charge (Round-trip) | |
| ferry | 90 min. | 120 min. | adult 2,150 yen ($16) child 1,080 yen ($8) | adult 4,090 yen ($30) child 2,060 yen ($15) |
| high-speed boat | 50 min. | 50～70 min. | adult 3,200 yen ($24) child 1,600 yen ($12) | adult 6,080 yen ($45) child 3,040 yen ($22.5) |
reference http://www.vill.zamami.okinawa.jp/ship/
Tokashiki Island
| Tokashiki Port | Charge (One-way) | Charge (Round-trip) | |
| ferry | 70 min. | adult 1,690 yen ($12.5） child 850 yen ($6.3) | adult 3,210 yen ($24) child 1,610 yen ($12) |
| high-speed boat | 35 min. | adult 2,530 yen ($18.5) child 1,270 yen ($9.3) | adult 4,810 yen ($35.5) child 2,410 yen ($17.8) |
reference http://www.vill.tokashiki.okinawa.jp/ferry/time
When is the tourist season?
The best time to enjoy swimming and marine sports is from July to September.
However, swimming can be done from late March to mid-November.
Swimming itself is allowed all year round.
The average annual temperature is 23.2°C, and 17.3°C even in the coldest months of January.
If the purpose of your trip is diving, the fish you see will vary depending on the time of year.
In addition, whale watching is available in winter, and can be enjoyed throughout the year.
What can we do on the island?
Diving is popular on all islands.
Other activities include the following
- snorkeling
- scuba diving
- camping
- jet ski
- kayak
- banana boat
If you go during the high season from July to September, you should make reservations for lodging and marine activities.
On the same day, they may be too fully booked to do anything.
The Kerama Islands can be reached by day trip from Naha.
However, people who live in Okinawa recommend staying one night because the stars are beautiful.
If you go to the trouble of going there, you want to see both the beautiful sea and the stars.
Aka Island is a great place to relax.
Aka Port
Aka Island is a small island with a circumference of 12 km, and you can walk around the island.
It looks like the city center can be circled in 30 minutes.
The population of the island is about 260.
From Tomari Port, it takes 50 minutes by high-speed boat (90 minutes by ferry).
The island is accessible by
walk, rent bicycle or rent a bike.
There are no rental cars or cabs.
If you are looking for a rustic island to do nothing but relax, this is the place to be.
Nishibama Beach
The photo above shows Kitahama Beach, the largest beach on Aka Island.
In Okinawa, the north is called Nishi.
It is located 1.5 km from Aka Port.
Snorkeling is also popular at this beach.
The entire beach is a snorkeling spot.
Kusibaru observatory
This is the Kusibaru observatory on the west side of Aka Island.
A famous place for sunset.
Night sky of Aka Island
The island has no streetlights, so the starry sky is said to be exceptionally beautiful.
Most of the tourist attractions on Aka Island are beaches and observatories.
Then there is the Takara-ke, a traditional Ryukyuan house that is an important cultural asset.
It’s a small island, so it seems like a good idea to rent a bicycle and explore the island at a leisurely pace.
Marine Activities and Whale Watching on Zamami Island
Zamami Island
Zamami Island is located at the northernmost point of the Kerama Islands.
From Tomari Port, it takes 50 minutes by high-speed boat (90 minutes by ferry).
It is the most populous of the Kerama Islands, with about 600 people.
There are many hills on the island.
Travel by bus, rental car, or rented motorcycle will be the main means of transportation.
Zamami Island offers various marine activities such as diving, snorkeling, SUP, and sea kayaking.
You can also take a boat to the three uninhabited islands around the island.
There, rock fishing, swimming and snorkeling are available.
Furuzamami Beach
The most popular spot on the island is Furuzamami Beach.
The area around the beach is sloped and the view from there seems to be outstanding.
There are five observatories on the island, from which you can watch the sunrise or sunset.
Objects at Zamami Port
The photo shows a whale object at Zamami Port.
Whale watching can be enjoyed from January to March.
In winter, humpback whales from around Alaska seem to come here to give birth and raise their young.
Sabani race
Sabani races are held in June.
An event in which participants row a “Sabani”, a fishing boat used in the Ryukyu Islands since ancient times, from Furuzamami Beach to Naha.
I would like to see it when I go there in June.
Tokashiki Island offers marine activities and sea turtles.
Tokashiki Island is the largest of the Kerama Islands, with a circumference of 25 km.
From Tomari Port, it is a 35-minute high-speed boat ride (70 minutes by ferry).
The island is accessible by
buses, cabs, and rental cars,
In addition, bicycle and bike rentals are also available.
The Sea of Tokashiki Island
If you want to have active fun, Tokashiki Island seems to be a good choice.
ダイビングやシュノーケリングのほか、
In addition to diving and snorkeling, you have kayaking, banana boating, and jet skiing.
A popular beach on Tokashiki Island is Aharen Beach.
The pure white sandy beach stretches for 800 meters.
It is shallow and the waves are calm, making it ideal for families.
Sea Turtle Spot
There is a high probability of encountering sea turtles on Tokashiki Island, and they can sometimes be seen while snorkeling.
In addition, there is the Tokashiki Marathon held every year around February to March, where visitors can run a half-marathon while enjoying the island scenery.
Finally.
Both Zamami Island and Tokashiki Island offer marine activities, and there does not seem to be a big difference between the two islands.
Aka Island is less crowded and ideal for those who want to relax.
Why not consider visiting the Kerama Islands in addition to the main island of Okinawa?
Also, if you are planning to visit Okinawa, we recommend using the reservation site “J-TRIP”.
沖縄旅行ならJALで行く格安旅行のJ-TRIP（ジェイトリップ）
Oh, and if you enjoy local activities,
is a convenient way to do this.
Search for “Kerama Islands” and you will find diving and snorkeling.
Thank you for reading to the end.
ホテルが選べてフライトもJAL！格安国内旅行のJ-TRIP（ジェイトリップ）
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